Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together; sophistication demands that they submit to sex immediately without proper preliminary talk. Not courting talk — real straight talk about souls, for life is holy and every moment is precious.

Kerouac laments what he sees as a modern, performative “sophistication” that pressures young people to treat sex as an immediate social requirement rather than the outcome of genuine intimacy. The contrast between “courting talk” and “real straight talk about souls” suggests he is not advocating prudishness but depth: honest conversation about values, vulnerability, and the meaning of a shared life. The closing claim—“life is holy and every moment is precious”—frames sexuality and companionship as spiritual and existential matters, not merely recreational or status-driven acts. The quote reflects a recurring Kerouac theme: the search for authenticity against shallow social scripts.